Feb 24, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to set up a new prison in Hambantota district in the Southern Province as a measure to ease the overcrowding in the country's major prisons.

The new prison will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 million in Angunakolapelessa in Hambantota district. The foundation stone for the construction of the facility will be laid this month, Prisons Department officials said.

Sri Lanka Prisons Department says it is housing around 27,000 prisoners at the moment and most of the prisons are overcrowded. A majority of them are incarcerated in the Welikada Prison in Colombo.

A majority of Sri Lanka's prisons were established at present venues in the colonial era and the lands on which they are situated are highly valuable prime land today. Sri Lanka government is in a drive of freeing this prime state land through relocation of the prisons. The land is to be used for commercially more viable projects.